Typographical composing and casting machine



May 31, 1932. .-E. MORRISON TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING AND CASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INYENTOR May 31, 1932. 1 RI 1,860,900

TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING AND CASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 15. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9n \rq WH N" .Mnuw 2 X I BY Patented May 31, 1932 Unrrn srA'rJ s LUTHER n. aronnison, OF NEW YORK, 1v. Y., AssIeNon 'ro MnReEivrrret-nn 'Lmo'rYPn PATENT orricsi COMPANY, A CORPORATION 01* NEW YORK TYPOGRAPHICAL COMP OSING AND CASTING MACHINE A mam filed sept'einber 1s, 192a; Serial No. 392,359.

This invention relates to typographical machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization oresented in Letters atent of thevUnited tates to O. Mergenthaler, No. 436,532, wherein circulating matrices are released under the control of a keyboard from a magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear in print and then composed in line in an assembhng elevator,

the composed line then transferred through an intermediate channel into a vertically movable first elevator whi'chpresents it to a mold, whereupon the mold is filled with molten metal to 'form a slug or linotype against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices there after elevated and returned through a distributing mechanism to the magazine from;

which they started. 'More particularly, it relates to that class of machines designed to handle matrices provided with two or more superposed characters, and whereinthe assembling elevator, intermediate channel, and first elevator are each provided With two sets of supporting rails whereby the matrices may be composed and maintained at an upper or lower level, or both, as desired, to locate the selected characters in operative posi tion. 7

When it is desired to cast a slug from the lower characters of all of the matrices of a composed line (as for a solid line of italics), it is the usual practice to assemble and maintain such matrices, not at the upper level as would otherwise be required, but at the lower level, and then to arrest the first elevator in a slightly raised position so as to locate the selected characters opposite the mold slot, such arrest of the elevator being ordinarily effected by a stop member mounted on the vise frame andadapted to be thrown into action at the'will of the operator. Similarly, in the use of head-letter matrices or matrices with characters above 14 pt. the same practice is followed so as to eflect the proper alinement of the matrix characters with the mold slot. The foregoing practice has given rise tovery serious objections, as

it frequently happens that an operator, through oversight or carelessness, will assemble matrices at the upper level while the elevator stop is in action, which will result in the improper presentation of the matrix line to the mold and henceproducea squirt, or cause damage to the parts, or both. i

The present inventionis intended to over'- come the above objection and contemplates means for preventing the compositionaof matrices except under the proper conditions. To this end, specifically, the machine is equipped with a keyboard lock which is normally inoperative but which will be rendered operative automatically whenever an attempt is made to compose matrices at the upper levelinthe assembler when the stop is set to arrest the first elevator in a raised posi-. tion before the mold.

In the'embodimentillustrated, the keyboard lock is in the form of'a long barwhich is arranged to be moved into and outof look-- ing engagement with theseries of key-actuated slides which control the operation of the customary cam yokes employed for operating the escapement reeds which effect there? lease of the matrices from the magazine; This locking bar is operated through a train of connections by a fore-and-aft actuating member disposed'behind an extension on the assembled rail which determines the level at which the matrices are composed in line. The relative disposition of the assembler rail and the locking-bar actuating member is such that normally the rail may be moved into and out of the assembler as desired with out affecting the actuating member, but when the first elevator stop is brought into u'se,'it'

automatically positions betweenthe actuating member and the'assembler rail (if the latter is withdrawn at the time) a rod'or interponent which vwill cause the rail, as it is shoved into the assembler, to push the actuating member 'rearwardly and move thekeyboard locking bar into its locking position, thereby preventing the release, of matrices from the magazine and consequently preventing their delivery toor composition in the assembler. Eat the time the first elevator stop isbrought into use the assembler assembler, the same locking action will take I place, since the rod or interponent connected to the first elevator stop is itself designed under such conditions to move the actuating member rearwardly and effect the locking of the keyboard. c It will be seen therefore that according to the foregoing arrangement of the parts, the

keyboard will be locked whenever the first elevator stop andthe assembler rail are both in their active position, which is the condition giving rise to the objections before noted,the actuation of the keyboard lock being effected automatically by the. movement of either the stop or, the rail to active position while the otheris in active position. On the other hand, when the first elevator stop. and the assembler rail are in inactive position, or one of them only in active position at the time, the keyboard lock will be inoperativeor ineffectiveand the matrices may be released, from the magazine and composed in line in the regular way, whether at the upper level or the lower level asrequired.

While it is preferred to make use of an automatic keyboard lock as above described, it is withinIthe'contemplation of the invention to'prevent the composition of the matrices by resorting to other well known expedients, as for instance by locking the mat-. rices in the magazine or by locking against actuation the matrix releasing escapements or their operating reedsi This can easily be done by connecting the actuating member (which in the illustrated embodiment onerates the keyboard locking bar) to a matrix lock or an escapement lock or an escapement reed lock, as the case may be, so-as to operate invention to prevent the composition of the matrices without actually preventing their release from the magazine. as for instance by connecting theactuating member above mentioned to a clutch or similar device which would arrest the operation of the well known assembler belt or the operation ofthe driving means for the entire assembling mechanism. v

[The actuating member, because of the manner in which it is operated, lends itself readily to these and other adaptations, and since any mechanic skilled in the art could easily make them without further directions, it has not been thought necessary to illustrate them in the drawings. Indeed, in another aspect of the invention, the actuating member could be made to operate a safety device in the form of an alarm or signal to warn the operator when the parts are in improper relative adjustment.

It will be understood therefore that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of portions of a linotype machine'equipped with the present improvements; 7 v

Fig. 2 is a detail fragmentary plan view of the first elevator stopor filler piece and the connected rod or interponent;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3- of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken through the keyboard mechanism and the assembler, showing in particular the connections between the keyboard locking bar and the actuatingmember therefor;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of a portion of the keyboard locking bar and Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are enlarged plan views, in the nature of diagrams, showing the assembler rail and the rod or interponent connected to the first elevator stop as well as the actuating member for the keyboard lock in different relative positions.

The matrices X (herein shown as of the two-letter variety) are released from their storage magazine (not shown) by means of the escapement actuating-reeds 1 which are operated by the pivoted cam yokes 2 under the control of thei'inger keys 3. The yokes 2 are equipped with the rotary cams i which are normally held at rest by the engagement of the stop pins 5 thereon with the fixed abutments 6, but when the finger keys are actuated, the yokes are tripped by the triggers 7 and the cams t allowed to fallinto engagement with the underlying powerdriven rolls 8, which then rotate the cams and cause them to rock the yokes 2 upwardly for the opera-- tion of the escapement reeds. The triggers 7 are operated from the finger keys as usual through. the medium of the vertical slides 9, which rise in tripping the cam yokes and later fall by gravity to return the triggers to their original position in time to support the cam yokes after they have completed their operation of the escapement reeds and stop the rotation of the cams l. These parts and their mode of operation are so well known that any further description would be superfluous.' V

The matrices X, as they are released from their storage. magazine, are composed in line within the assembler or assembling elevator A in the usual way. After composition'of the line, the elevator A is raised into registration with the intermediate. channel B, through which the line is transferred into the transporter or first elevator C, The first elevator then descends to locate the composed line before the casting mold (not shown), which immediately advances from the rear into engagement with the line for the casting operation. The assembling elevator A is formed with a pair of fixed matrix support: ing rails A and with an adjustable matrix supporting rail A the adjustment of the latterbeing efiected by means of a handle A fast to a rock shaft A carriedby the elevator and connected to the rail through arms A The adjustable rail A thus determines the level at which the matrices are'composed in line, said rail acting when in active position to sustain the matrices at the upperlevel and when in inactive position to allow them to pass to the lower level ,where they are sustained by the fixed rails A The first elevator C (Fig. 1)is likewise formed with a pair of fixed rails to sustain the matrices at the lower level and with a retractable rail to sustain them atthe upper level. The intermediate channelB is formed with two pairs of fixed rails B andiB respectively, which serve to maintain thematrices at their composed levelsduring the transfer of the line from one elevator to the'other'. The foregoing parts are well known, but if further information is desired, reference may be had to the Rogers Reissue Patent No. 13,489.

In the normal operation of the machine, the first elevator C is allowed to descend to its lowermostpositiomzis determined by the engagement of its set s'crewC withthe top of the vise frame G. In thisgconnection, it is pointed out that the elevator is also provided with a second set screw C arranged to engage and depress the so-called vise-automatic G as the'elevator comes to rest. The operation of the vise-automatic is fully describedin the Mergenthaler Patent lo. 436,- 532 before referred to, so that no detailed description thereof seems necessary, but it may be noted that unless it is depressed by the first elevator, the operation of the machine will be arrested almost immediately and the casting operation thereby prevented, due to the automatic disengagement of the main driving clutch. Y

For reasons previously noted, it is sometimes desired to arrest the first elevator in a raised position with reference to the mold, and this may be effected, as customary, by means of a stop or filler piece E pivoted, by means of a rockshaft'E to a block G on the vise frame G so as to be swung into or out of active position; At its free end, the stop is provided with two contact pieces E and E the former being-carried directly by the body portion of the stop and adapted to cooperate with the set screw C in lilnitingthe descentlof the elevator, and the latter being carried byfa hinged flap or section E and adapted to cooperate with the set screw C in depressingthevise automatic G In Fig. 1, the stop or filler piece E is shown in active position and hence will bring about the arrest of the first elevator in its raisedflposition, as well as the depression of the vise auto} matic G in the usual way-i *When the elevator is thus arrested, it is necessarythat the 'matrices stand at the lower level, as otherwise series of key-actuated slides 9 and movable 5 into and out of locking engagement with the customary shoulders 9* presented by the slides near the top. In the present instance, the locking bar F is attached at itsopposite. ends to a pair of arms F fast to an overlying rock'shaft F iournaled in brackets F fixed to the keyboard frame (see Fig. 5); Atthe left, (looking from thefront of themachine) the shaft F -is extended beyond its supporting bracket and is provided at itsvextremity with an operatingvarm F, which latter is connected by a long linkrF to one the horizontal) arm of a bell-crank lever F", whose other (the vertical) arm is connected to a fore-and-aft actuating member J; a a i The bell-crank lever F and the" actuating member J are. both supported at the lower end of the intermediate channel B, the lever being centrally pivoted thereto, as at F, and

the actuating member being slidable endwise in suitable guides J A spring F7 pulling downwardly on the rock shaft'arm F from a fixed part of the frame,'tends'constantly to hold the locking bar 'F in its unlocking posi* tion as shown in the drawings, the actuating member J in this position of the locking bar.

keepingits forward positiomas indicated in' Figs. 6 and 8. i .i p

It may here be noted that the actuating member J is located in the horizontal plane of the adjustable assembler rail A ,'and that the latter is formed with a left-ward exten sion A adapted at times to push the member J toward the rear. and, through its connections with the locking bar F,to move the latter into locking engagement with the key-' actuated slides 9; Thera-il extension'-A is j beveled off at its rear corner, as at A ,to pro vide a cam surfacefor a purpose presently to be described. T?

As best shown in Figs. 2 andi3, the rock over, it is beveled off at its forwardcorner,

as at H to provide a cam surface adapted shaft'E of the first elevator stop or filler. piece E is extended forwardlyto provide a .turning handle E and at the rear it "has fast thereto a small crank arm E provided with a rearwardly extending crank pin E This crank pin E plays in a vertical elongated slot 'H of a long bar or rod H extending to the right across the vise frame G and terminating in engagement with the actuating member J, which latter presents a broad fiat engaging face J atthe front to maintain en- "gagement with the rod at all times.

backwardly in the supporting brackets B so as to push the actuating member J toward the rear under certain condltlons; and moreto cooperate with the cam surface A of the assembler rail A The action of the parts will now be clear Assuming for example that it is desired to cast a solid line ofitalics, or a line of headletter characters, the operator will, if necessary, move the assembler rail A to'its forward or inactive position 1n order to allow the matrices to be composed at the lower level in the assembler and'will also swing the stop E into active position inorder to arrest the first elevator in. its raised position. This is the condition represented in Fig; 1, and since the setting of the parts is correct, the composition'of the line may proceed, the locking bar F beingmaintained by the spring F in its unlocking position as shown. In this condition of the parts, the actuating member J occupies its forward position as shown by the full lines in Fig. 6, while the hinged section H of the rod H occupies its rightmost position as indicated by the dotted lines in said figure, having been moved to that position by the turning of the crank arm E at the time the stop E was swung into'active position by the turning of the handle E on the rock shaftE If now the operator, through carelessness or otherwise, shou'ld'move theassembler rail A rearwardly into active position (which would allow the matrices to be improperly composed at the upper level in the assembler) the rail in partaking of such movement will,"

because of the interposition of the hinged section H push the actuating rod J to the rear, as shown in Fig. 7, and thereby move thelocking bar F abovethe shoulders 9 of theslides 9 and thus prevent the actuation of the keyboard. No harm can therefore result, since the release of the matrices from their storage magazine is prevented, and the composition cannot proceed unti'lthe assembler rail is withdrawn to its forward inactive position or until the first elevator stop is turned back to its inactive-position. The choice will depend upon the natureof the next line to be composed.

If the assembler'rail A should be in its forward or active position (as shown by the full lines in Fig. 8) at the time the first elevator stop E is swung into active position (which would also create the objectionable condition above mentioned), the'hinged section H in moving to the right, will bring its cam surfaceI-Pinto engagement with the cam surface A. of the assembler rail, and these cam surfaces by their mutual engagement will swing the hinged; section H? of the rodH rearwardly and push the actuating member J before it (as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 8 thereby moving the locking bar F to its locking position. In this latter case, as before, the composition of the matricescannot proceed untilthe parts are properly adjusted, either'by withdrawing the assembler rail to inactive position or by throwing the first elevator stop out of action.

In short, it will be found that the keyboard is automatically locked whenever the first elevator stop E and the'assembler railA 'are both .in active position, the locking of the keyboard being effected by the .movementto the rear of the actuating member J when either of said parts is moved to active position while the other isin active position. On the other hand, when both the first elevator stop and the assembler railare in inactive position, or either one in inactive position while the other is in active position, the keyboard (due to the action of spring F will be maintained in unlocked condition to permit the composition ofthe matrices in the regular way. While it is not generally customary to compose a whole line of matrices at the upper level in the assembler when the first elevator stopis out of action, no harm canresultif this is done, because the first ele vator in being allowed to descend to its lower level will present the line properly before the mold. 7

As before stated, the invention has been shown herein only in preferred form and by way of example, and many modificationsand alterations will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or without avoiding the scope of the appended claims. Having thus described'my invention, what I claim is: I 7 I 1. In a typographical composing andcasting machine, the combination of means for composing matrices at different levels, means for presenting the composed matrices at different levels to the mold, and automatic means for preventing the composition of the are set in proper cooperative relation to each other. i i

2. In a typographical composing-and casting machine, the combination of an adjust able member to determine the level at which the matrices are composed, an adjustable member to determine the level at which the composed matrices are presented to the mold,- and automaticmeans for preventing the composition of the matrices in the event of the improper relative adjustment of the two said members. it o 1 3.- In a typographical composing and cas'*- ing machine, the combination ofan adjustable member to determine the level at which the matrices are composed, an adjustable member to determine the levelat which the the composed matrices are presented to the mold, and means actuated by one of said members for preventing the-composition of the matrices in the event of their improper relative adjustmenti f 4. Ina typographical composing and casting machine, the combination of an adjustg able member to determine the level at which the matrices are composed, an adjustable member to'determine the level at which the composed matrices are presented to the mold, and means actuated by either-of said members for preventingthe composition of the matrices in the event of their improperrelative adjustment; v

5 In atypographical composing and casting machine, the combination ofan assent bier provided with a matrixsupporting rail adjustable to active oriinactive position, a vertically movable transporter 7 adapted to receive the composed matrices from the as semblerand present them to thjemold, a stop or filler piece adjustable to active orinac tive position so as to arrest said transporter in raised position-or permit it to descend to its normal position, and automatic means for preventing the composition" of the matrices when both the matrix supporting rail and the stop'or filler piece areinactive position.

6. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination of means for releasing matrices from their storage maga' j zine, means for composing the released matrices at difierent levels, means for pre-; senting the composed matrices at different levels to the mold, and automatic means for preventing the release of matrices from the 7 magazine exceptwhensaid matrix composing and said matrix presenting means are setin proper cooperative relation to 1each other.

7. In a typographical composingandcasting machine, the combination of means for, releasing matrices from their storage maga zine,-an adjustable member'to determinethe level at which the released matrices are com-' posed, an adjustable member to determinethe level at which the composed matrices are pre-f if? sented to'themold and automatic'means'for preventing the release of matrices from the magazine in the event of the improper relative adjustment of the two saidlevel determining members.

- 8. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combi'nation of means for releasing matrices: from their storag'e magazine, an assembler whereinthe released maltrices are composed in line and provided with matrix supporting rail ustable to active at which the matrice are composed; a verti callymova ble transporter adapted to rec ivethe composed line from the assembler and present it to themold, a stop or filler pieceadjustable to active or inactive position so as to arrest said tra'nsp'orter in araisea position or permit it to descend to normal lower p6: sition, and automatic 'meansfor preventing the release of matrices from the magazine when both the matrix supporting rail and the stop or fillerfpiece are in active position.

Ina typographicalcomposing and easting machine, the combination of means for,

releasing matrices from their storage mega zine, an assembler wherein thereleasedmab rices are composed in line and provided with a matrix supporting rail adjustable-to. active or inactive position determiningflthe level at which the matrices are "composed, a vertically' movable transporteradapted toreceive the composed line from" the assembler and present it w the mold, a stop or filler piece adjustable to activeor'inactive' position so as to arrest said transporter raised'po'sition or permit it todescend to a normal lower'poagainst actuation except when said matrix" composing and said matrix presentingrneans are set 1n'properco'operative relation to each other t I a c 1 11. In a typographical composifig'and castlao ing machine, thecombination of a'; keyboard mechanism for releasing matrices from-their storage magazine; an adjustable member to determine the level at. whi eh the released iii-at? rices are composed, an; adjustable membertd 7 determine the level at} whichithe composed matrices are presented tothe 'm'old, andijau; tomatic means for, locking the keybeard mechanism against actuation the event of or inactive position m'determining the lever y the improper'relative adjustment of the two said adjustable members.- V V .lZJIn a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination of a keyboard mechanism :for releasing matrices from their storage magazine, an assembler where! in the released matrices are composed in line and provided with a matrix supporting rail adjustable to active or inactive position 1n determining the level at which the matrices are composed, a vertically movable trans porter adapted to receive the composed line from the assembler andpresent it, to the mold, a stop or filler piece adjustable to active or inactive position so as to arrest'said transporter in 'a raised position or permit it to descendto a normal lower position, and automatic means for locking. the keyboard mechanism against actuation when both the matrix supporting rail and the stop or filler piece are in active position. 7

18. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination of a keyboard mechanism for releasingmatrices from their storage magazine, an assembler: wherein the released matrices are composed in line and provided with a matrix supporting rail adjustable to active or inactive position in determining the level at which the matrices are composed, a vertically movable transporter 7 adapted to receive the composed line from the assembler and present it to the. mold a stop or'filler piece adjustable to active or inactive position so as to arrest'said transporter 'in-a raised position or permit it todescend to anormallower position, and means for locking the keyboardmechanism against actuationwhen both the matrixsupporting rail and the stop or filler piece are inactive posis tion,1said means, being actuated bythe movement of one of said parts to active position while the other is in active position.

14. In a typographical composing, and casting machine, the combination of a keyboard mechanismfor releasing matricesf'rom the r storage magazine, an assembler Wherein the released matricesare'composed in line and provided with a matrix supporting rail adjustable to active orinactive position in determining the level at which the matrices are composed, afvertically movable transporteradapted to receive the composed line from the assembler and present it to the mold,; a stop or filler piece adjustable ,to ac i tive or inactive position so as to arrest said transporterin a raised. position or permit it to descend'to a normal lower position, and

means for locking the keyboard mechanism against actuation'iwhen both the matrix sup,-

porting rail and the stop or filler piece are inactive posltion, sa d means belng actuated '7 by the movement of either of said members 7 to active position: while the other is in active position.

15. A combination as in claimflO, wherein i the keyboard 'mechanism includes a series-of vertically movable slides controlling the operation of powereope'rated cam yokes which actuate escapement reeds in eflecting the release of the matrices from their storage magazine, and wherein the automatic locking mechanism includes a bar adjustable into and out of locking engagement with said vertically movable slides. v v

16. A combination as in claim 10 wherein the keyboard mechanism includes a series of: vertically movable slides controlling the op eration of power-,operatedcam yokes which actuate escapement reeds in eflectingthe re-' lease of the matrices from their storage mag receive the composed matrices from the assembler and present them to the mold, a stop or filler piece adjustable to activeorinactive position so as to arrest said transporter in raised position or permit it to descend to its normal'position,;and a safetydevice presenting a movable actuating member arrangedto be moved .by the movement of the matrix supporting rail to active position whilethe stop or filler'piece is in active position,'but 7 not otherwise, j

, 18. In a typographical composing and casting machine, the combination of an 'assembler provided with a matrix supporting rail adjustable to active or inactive position, a vertically movable transporter adapted to receive the composed matrices from the assembler and present them to the mold, a stop or filler piece adjustable to active or inactive position so as to arrest'said transporter in raised position or permit it to descend to its ing an actuating member arrangedto be op erated by the. movement of either the matrix supporting rail 'or. the stopor filler piece to active position.,;while;the other is inactive position, but not otherwise.

7 n5 normal posltlon, and a safety devlcepresent- V 19.v A combination as in claim'l7 characterized by the fact that the stop or filler piece is connected to abaror rodwhich cog operateswith' the assembler rail in controlling the operation of the safety device actuating memberpy V f f f r V 20. A combination as, in claim 17 charac-- terized by the fact that the stop or filler pieceisconnectedto abar or rod which cooperates with the assembler rail in controlling the operation of the safety device actuating member, and by the further fact that said her or rod is beveled at its free end and that the assembler rail is also beveled at the adjacent end to cooperate therewith, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof this specification has been duly signed by:

LUTHER E. MORRISON. 

